Giants v 49ers - Game Preview

What the Giants need to do to win:
1) Stop Frank Gore... okay it is probably not reasonable to ask the Giants to hold Gore under 50 and completely stop him. But they do need to slow him down and hold him to under 100. If Gore gets going it will force the Giants to adjust and this will make it easier on Trent Dilfer to "take what the defense gives him" and move the ball on short and intermediate routes. Stopping Gore will force Dilfer to become the playmaker which is not what he is.

2) Even if the Giants slow Frank Gore, SF is a running to team so they will be running on 1st and 2nd often. We are gonna see a lot of 3rd and 5 to 3rd and 1s today. The Giants defense has to get off the field on these situations. They were able to do this effectively over the last 4 games (this is also what killed them against GB when they could not get off the field).

3) The Giants need to run the ball. If they can run the ball effectively then they might not need Eli to do anything at all to win this game. But in case he is still needed this will open up play-action.

4) Spread the ball around on offense. Clements makes the big bucks for a reason...he has size and skills. This is probably the worst matchup Plax will have all year. Eli should get Toomer, Shock, Smith (hopefully) into the game.

5) This one will be here for every week until Eli proves me wrong... Stop HOISTING the ball. Turnovers kill, the Giants aren't that much better than SF to give them any gifts.

Final Prediction: Giants 23, SF 17